A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology…

Google Introduces Smart Campaigns for Small Businesses (Search Engine Land)
The first new solution to debut under the new Google Ads brand is designed specifically for small businesses. Google announced the launch of Smart Campaigns on Wednesday.

Amazon Plans Startup SMB Delivery Services for Its Own Packages (NYT)
For a minimum investment of $10,000, people in the United States will be able to open and manage their own delivery service handling Amazon packages. Although the couriers will not be employees of the company, they’ll get access to Amazon-branded vehicles, uniforms and more.

How Local News Publishers Can Win SMB Ads Against Facebook: A Case Study (Street Fight)
We know that local news providers can compete with Facebook for brand advertisers. But what about publishers also capturing SMBs—is that too much of a stretch? Michael Dinan, editor of the profitable local news site New Canaanite in suburban Connecticut, has some answers.

How a Proposed California Privacy Regulation Could Impact User Data-Driven Business (Street Fight)
If it passes and is signed into law in November, the California Consumer Privacy Act would establish groundbreaking new consumer privacy rights throughout the country. The California act mimics the heavy regulations of the GDPR and could become one of the broadest privacy laws in the nation.

AT&T Will Have a Growing Direct-to-Consumer Video Play When It Fully Buys Otter Media (Digiday)
AT&T will own a distribution platform that gives the telecommunications giant the chance to become a bigger player in a growing area for TV networks and digital video programmers: direct-to-consumer streaming channels.

Why Publishers Are Ditching Viral Clips for Long-Form Videos (Axios)
Publishers that spent years investing in making dozens of viral social media videos every day are pivoting their production efforts to creating high-quality, episodic video series that can be sold or licensed across many different video channels.

Instagram Is Estimated To Be Worth $100 Billion (Bloomberg)
Facebook’s Instagram is estimated to be worth more than $100 billion, if it were a stand-alone company, marking a 100-fold return for the app purchased in 2012, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence.

This Small California Publication Provides a Blueprint for Local Buyers Saving a Newspaper (Poynter)
A new beginning has emerged for a 120-year-old weekly newspaper tucked into the little yellow building next to City Hall in a city 30 minutes south of San Francisco.